. The naturalist's library; containing scientific and popular descriptions of man, quadrupeds, birds, fishes, reptiles and insects; . s prey of birds, which it is rarely if everknown to attack. Bruce remarks that on taking hold of this bird he was not a little surprisedto find his hands covered with a yellow powder, which appeared to beproduced from the breast feathers; while those of the back and wings threwoff a similar dust, excepting that on them it was brown. He imagined thatthis powder was contained in the tubes of the feathers, from which it wasemitted upon pressure; and that it was a p
. The naturalist's library; containing scientific and popular descriptions of man, quadrupeds, birds, fishes, reptiles and insects; . s prey of birds, which it is rarely if everknown to attack. Bruce remarks that on taking hold of this bird he was not a little surprisedto find his hands covered with a yellow powder, which appeared to beproduced from the breast feathers; while those of the back and wings threwoff a similar dust, excepting that on them it was brown. He imagined thatthis powder was contained in the tubes of the feathers, from which it wasemitted upon pressure; and that it was a peculiar provision of nature toenable the birds of those Alpine regions to withstand the rigors of the cli-mate. It is more probable, however, that this appearance, which has notbeen noticed by any other writer, was merely the result of the change ofplumage which the vulture had just undergone; the powder in questionbeing in reality nothing more than the original pellicle of the feathers sepa-rating from them in minute particles, as is usual when they have ootainedtheir perfect growth. AVES—VULTURE. 429 THE SECRETARY VULTURE.*. Tins curious bird resembles the common falcon in its head, bill, and claws,but its legs are so long that, when it stands upright, it is not much unlikethe crane. After much hesitation, modern naturalists have arranged it inthe vulture order. When standing erect, it measures about three feet fromdie top of the head to the ground. It is a native of the interior of Africa,Asia, and the Philippine Islands. The general color of the plumage is abluish ash ; the tips of the wings, the thighs, and the vent inclining to the back of the head are several long dark colored feathers, hangingdown behind, and capable of being erected at pleasure. This crest inducedthe Dutch colonists at the Cape to give it the name of the secretary; theHottentots, however, style it the serpent eater, from the avidity with whichit catches and devours those noxious reptiles. Th
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